davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10
a GhastIy Ornament.

WASHINGTON. ID. c., August "a curious
and interesting relic of Indian barharism was
received at the War Department few days
ago. II consisted of necklace of human
fingers Originally there were eleven fingers,
strung together after the manner of necklaces
Of bears claws, but three Of them had been
lost This CHASTITY ornament had been cap
tured in an attack on the Northern Che
yennes in 1876, and each finger represented
a Ii ie taken by the owner. the Big Medicine
Man of the tribe.
The fingers had been preserved by opening
the skin. removing the bones, scraping away
all the tissues aud fatty substances, replacing
the bones and subjecting the skin to some
tanning process The necklace was sent to
West Point by Capt. Bourke, who is now en-
gagged in preparing some historical matter
relating TO the Indians. 1t was brought from
West Point here in oider that il might be re-
produced in paper mache at the Smithson-
ian Institution. The scientists of that insti-
tuition are quite enthusiastic over it, regard
ing il as a precious specimen of the barbar-
Gus habits of the Indians who are now fast
disappearing. War Department officials.
however. look upon it with disgust whenev-
er they are able to summon up sufficient
hardihood TO take peep at it.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10

EVANSVILLE, IsD.. Aug 3.--Ffom q gem
tleman jus, arrived from Hopkinsvilie the
following particulars are obtained Of the
sinking of land in Trigg county, Ky, since
the earthquake Monday night :-Golden
Pond is mere hamlet. contsining two set
Elements OF nsgrces, who eke out living by
working on several large farms owned by
non-residents. Monday night about 6 O'Clock
several Of them felt the earth frembie, but
Thought nothing serious had occuredsbeyond
a slight iremor. and after passing over il
went TO bed About II O'Clock everybody
was awakened by sharp shock and had
barely Jumped TO their feet, when the earth
with shaking dizzy motion suddenly sank
a distance of five feet, carrying houses aud
terrified darkies with them. 81
The scene that ensued battles description.
The negroes fell on their knees and in fren-
zied tones prayed the Lord to save them
Others began shouting and prnising the Al
mighty. and ever and anon casting an up
ward glance to see If chariots of fire were not
descending. Added TO this pandemonium
was the intense darkness which pervaded-
the moon being completely obscured by the
heavy black clouds, which hung very low
and like pail over the doomed district
Rumblings were heard from the depths be-
low. which grew louder, and numerous
springs. hidden for years. suddenly found an
opening. and began to bubble upward in con
stanily-increasing streams. The terrified in
liabitants, not pausing for house bold goods
or chatteIs, gathered their offspring hurrid-
ly and rushed away from the doomed spot
and some of them are still putting as much
distance between them and the sinking land
as possible More courageous ones only fed
until they reached safe ground and there
waited until daylight, when they ventured
back TO the scene Of the nights terror, and
gazed sadly upon the ruin spread before
them.
Over 250 acres of fine farm land, including
one magnificent plantation, owned by G. u.
HAYDEN lay from five 10 six feet below the
level of the surrounding country, and CON
tanned about three feet of water from the
springs started by the earthquake 4 large
area OF ftFl! ttiidSl' VIII pS a t'Nit 49,
Nearly all the cabins have been torn loose
and are floating about in sarious positions,
while household goods are mixed up in in
extricabe confusion. Fortunately, no lives
have been lost, but the loss Of property is in
calculabie The catastrophe was undouted-
" caused by the earthquake, which was
noiiceablein Tennessee; Missouri, Kentucky,
and Indiana at i2:27 A. NJ. as the rumbling
sounds aad vibrations felt were similar To-
those of siesmic disturbance. Golden Pond
is abont 100 miles distant from the spot
where a similar catastrophe occurred about
seventy years ago when a lake Of large area
suddenly disappeared, leaving nothing but
the bed. in the centre Of which was hole of
unfathomable depth and several hundred
yards in diameter
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10
Praying for Rain.

CHICAGO, August The drouth still con-
tinues severe in Central Illinois Wells and
streams are drying up and farmers are oblig-
ed in many places to haul water for miles.
Thousands of acres of land have been burn
ed over and inealculable damage has been
sustained in the burning of hay, grain, bull
dings and fences Many fine hedge fences
have been destroyed. Over 800 acrcs were
burned over in Jackson county. much hay,
machinery, fencing, etc. being destroyed.
A vast tract has been burned in Manhattan.
The ponds and lakes are dried up and the
earth and vegetation are parched The CON
dition of the country is becoming alarming
and everybody is offering up prayers for
rain
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10

MACON. Ga.gAngslst 6.--News was receised
this morning Of terrible tragedy at the
house of Cap. r. f. woodfalk. a farmer liv-
ing about twelve miles from here. by which
nine persons we've kilied-taptain and Mrs.
Woolfalk. their six children, ranging In ages
from Is months TO - years. and Mrs. West.
m aunt of Mrs. woolfllk. aged 50 years.
The Coroner's jury found verdict Of mnr-
der against Thomas g. Woolfalk, son offhe
Captains first wife who was sleeping in the
house
His statement was that some time before
davbreak he was awakened by groans and
the sounds of blows proceeding from his
parent s room. His half brother Richard ran
into the room which adjoined his and, think
ing that murder was being committed. he
fThornas) Jumped from window in his
night clothes and bare feet and ran to the
house of negro 800 or 400 yards distant to
get them 10 arouse the neighborhood. He
says he was afraid TO return. fearing that he
himself would be murdered, but went back
after an hour No help had arrived. and he
wtnt IN 10 see III tile iaif1aig hdh oct-ii ihuf-
derei He found them all dead He step
ped into pool of blood in passing. and left
footprints on the floor. He found his step
mether lying 80 that her head was on the
floor and her body on the bed He raised
her up and placed her on the bed. He then
changed his clothes. By this time a crowd
had arrived, and soon after he was taken in
to custody.
The evidence before the jury was circum-
tial throughout The crowd continued to
grow larger, and the indications pointed
strongly 70 lynching Sheriff Westcott told
the Jury TO withhold their verdict until he
could get the prisoner away. and then, max
ing all arrangements, slipped Woodfalk out
of the house in hurry, and drove away so
rapidly that the crowd had hardly time to
realize the departure. The prisoner was
brought 10 Macon and safely lodged in Jail,
and talked of the crime coolly but made
no admissions His motive is said TO be the
desire to gain possession of his fathers prop
erty for himself and his two sisters, children
oi the first wife.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10
Pistols at the Polls.

WLLIAssBURe, KY, Aug 3.-intelligenee
comes from Manchester, Clay county that
fierce fight occurred At the polls during the
voting on Monday The fight was partici-
yaied in by a score or more of men, all hav-
IN, revolvers or bowie knives. Six men were
killed outright, aud a number badly wound
ed The dead men are Jack Hacker.
D,ugherty White, John e. White, Dale Lit
tie, and two who are as yet unknown. The
first four men were prominent citizens of
Manchester and the unknown were strangers
from the country. The greatest excitement
prevails there.
There was no attempt ON the part of the Of
ficers TO qnel the disturbance. Manchester
is the capital of Clay county, in the south
eastern part of the State.
The difficulty arose about nego's vote and
a fight ensued between d. w White, j. G.
White, VIM White and A. J. Hacker and
Dale Lyttle. Hacker was shot and instantly
killed d. w White and Lyttle were both
seriously wounded. 1t is reported that
frienSs of both parties are aroused and arm
ed and trouble is expected. Ii is reported
that the negro was also killed and his body
thrown INTO creek The Whites are Re
publicans and Hacker is a Democrat
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10

Crushed to Death.

MISyEAPoLIs. August IA serious aeci-
dent occurred this morning al the ruins of
the St Anthony elevator in the suburbs of
the city. The elevator burned July 10, and
since the settlement was made with the in
suranee companies, large force of men have
been employed removing the damaged wheat.
To-day twelve men were employed shoveling
away grain from the south wall of the ele-
vator. behind which, in the bottom of the
bins, was still great mass of wheat. and.
without warning, the wall yielded to out
ward pressure, and the great stone structure
fell over upon the men, crushing them terri
bly, and mangling them almost beyond rec
ognition.
Ii was several hours before the bodies of
Gus Brown, z. p. Anderson, Thomas Demp-
sey Ed Markey and John johnson were ex-
tracted from the debris. Later another was
taken ont but in unidentified An addition
al victim. A. Erickson yet alive, was remov-
ed to his home in South Minneapolis.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10
Struck by Lightning.

FRANKLIN, August "a terrific storm,
amounting almost TO a cyclone, passed over
this city last night. doing vast amount of
damage The western part of the city was
inundated A $1,000 barrel Of tank oil, be-
longing to the Eclipse OIL Company, was
fired by flash of lightning, and for a time
threatened the destruction of the entire oil
works. the largest in the world. The burn
ing oil formed a pool against the tracks Of
the New York Pennsylvania and Ohio and
the Lake Shore Road track. delaying all the
trains.
The loss by tire will reach S2o0o0. Hugh
Porter, fireman, was accidentally hit ON
the head by hose wrench and fatally injur-
ed james Garfield and John King were
fatally burned. Michael Kinnes and several
Others were seriously injured The fire was
gotten under control at O'Clock this after
noon.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10
Ohio and Kentucky.

Philadelphia Times
Ohio last elected i Democratic Governor
in 1883, chiefly on the issue of protection TO
industry. It was done just on the heels of
the passage of the new tariff that reduced the
duty on wool, and the wool counties broke
almost solidly against the Republicans. Now
the Democrats of Ohio, having tried almos,
everything else, have planted themselves on
the platform Of the Kentucky free traders,
and thus assured Forakers reelection by 40
600 or 50. The party that even squints to-
ward free trade in Ohio only lives TO save fu-
neral expenses.
just after Ohio had accepted and proclaim
ed the Kentucky free trade theory, Ken
tucky held an important State election that
called out full vote ard the majority of the
votes cast are against the Democrats for the
first time since the war Bnckner squeezes
in as Governor, but il looks a. If his election
is only by plurality Ohio Democracy
seems 20 have tumbled into the free trade
whirlpool just in time To be in at the death
and die with H. Some species of insanity
excite pity, but the political insanity that
accepts free trade in nation where industry
is sovereign and is the wealth and power of
the government. is the utter insanity upon
which pity would be wasted aud which
must ever be a stranger to hope
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10

IL May last the Democrats of Kentucky,
in State Convention assembled, determin-
ed to take the lead, and set the pace for
the National races in 1855. Accordingly
they endorsed the President in the most
fulsome and gushing manner, denounced
the present war tariff and declared in
favor of taxes limited to the require
ments Of the Government economically
administered and nominated as their
candidate for Governor, General Buck
ner, the gentleman who was compelled to
surrender Fort Donelson. They opened
the campaign with hurrah claimed
fifty thousand of a majority, and kept il
up to the end. SO thorough canvass of
the State was never before made. Black
burn, Beck, Carlisle and other leaders
were called upon 10 take the stump, the
whisky ring threw its thousands into
the Democratic campaign treasury, the
fires of ox-roasts and barbecues blazed
throughout the State, and voters We're en-
treated to rally for the honor of the De
mocracy, and for Cleveland and reform.
The result of this unparalleled effort is
not vet known, although a full week has
elapsed since the election, but instead Of
the $1,000 majority 50 persistently claim
ed, the heart sick Democracy would now
gladly compromise on much less than one
half that amount, which is virtual defeat.
Kentucky has not given SO meagre a ma
iority for many wears. Four years ago
the majority of Proctor Knott for Cover
nor was 44,434 Three years ago Mr..
Cleveland carried the State against Blaine
on a largely increased vote over that of
1883, by majority of "a ,S39, and on Mon
day of last week General Buckner receiv-
ed a majority of less than 10000, and
probably less than $4,000, and that too,
backed as he was with all the hoped for
prestige to be acquired for the State by
leading off in the Presidential canvass,
and measurably debating the party's
coming platform on the questions of tar
i'll and taxation. Mr.. Cleveland may well
take pause for thought, as he cons over
the figures of this election, and takes u
retrospective glance. During the past
four years there has been a steady, telling
reduction of the majority in this Demo
cratic stronghold. Forty-five, thirty-five,
less than twenty thousand majority, tells
an unmistakable tale. Kentucky is cut
loose from her moorings and is steadily
drifting into the Republican harbor
The teachings of Henry Clay though APP
parently dead, have taken deep root, and
are again fructifying. The redemption Of
the South is coming, and it is coming
through the power of the demand for the
American doctrine of Protection TO
home industry" Speaker Carlisle Of
Kentucky and the Louisville Courier
Journal are the most conspicuous repre-
sentatives in the country of the Free
Trade idea-Behold where they lie
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10
Charged With Dynamiting.

UNIoNrowN, Pa, Aug 3.-Tbe authorities
Of Fayette county are now looking for John
Knight, postmaster at Roundbottom. a small
village in Dunbar township. A few even
ings ago VIM. Bender, while sitting in his
house after his family had retired, heard
kissing noise like fuse, and rushing to the
window saw a man running away whom he
says he recognized in the moonlight as
Knight. A loud report ensued and the house
trembled Mr.. Snyder found that an at
tempt had been made TO blow up his house
with dynamite, there being bad feeling be
tween him and Knight. Snyder swore out
warrant and placed it in the hands of Con-
stable Adds. who arrested Knight. but the
latter got permission to change his clothes
and on this pretense managed TO escape
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10

TIE Democratic family fight, over the
Indgeship, in Fayette county, grows bit
terer and dirtier as it grows Older, and
there is an evident determination to fight
il out. at the risk of losing the district.
The charges of corruption do not rest
solely upon the statement of Republicans.
The Fageffe Monitor -Searights organ,
in its issue of last week directly charges
glaring fraud and corruption as the meth
ods by which Boyle's nomination was
procured, and asserts that Democrats are
not bound to support a nomination OBJ
tained by such means. Nay, it goes fur
ther and names the parties who paid
and received money, and points out the
precincts where fraudulent votes were
cast. So open and specific are the charges
of bribery and fraud, made by the None
tor that we do not see how, If the District
Attorney and Grand Jury do their duty.
prosecution under the act of 1881, pro-
viding for the punishment of bribery
and fraud at primary elections, is 10 be
avoided. Mr.. Boyle cannot afford to 90
on the bench with such charges hanging
over him, nor can the decent citizens of
the district submit TO his doing 50 and
retain their self esteem.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10
Young Boys ErightfuI Crime.

EAToN. o.. Aug. 3--John Beall. l;;-year-
old boy, who has been in Jail here six weeks
on the charge OF killing his mother. mas made
a confession to the Prosecuting Attorney the
Sheriff and ex-Sherif, in which he says he
shot his mother twice, and then nearly be-
headed her with an ak. 1t is supposed he
was with the body three hours before giving
the alarm. No motive can be assigned for
his crime, except thai he was angry at what
seemed to him to be evidence OF favoritsm
shown 30 his sister bY his mother
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10

READING, Aug 6.-John Bluintz. a German
employed OF the Reading iron works. called
on Alderman Denherd several weeks ago and
represented that he was lonely and wanted a
wife. He asked the Alderman 10 write to
Castle Garden officials 10 send on girl y
yeas old weighing about 100 pounds, saying
that he would give her good home
The Alderman wrote and to-day the expect =
ant bride came. Her name was Caatharine
Bauerethel and she came TO America to meet
her brother, who she since learned was killed
some time ago. The couple had half an
hours interview and said that they were
satisfied with each other. They were mar
ried to-day accordingly and will live on
Miner street. this city This IS believed to
be one of the briefest coursship> on record.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10
A Coke Train Wrecked.

PTTrsBu H, Aug. A west-bound coke
train on the Pennsylvania Railroad was
wrecked in Carpenters Tunnel, nineteen
miles east of this city, AT 1890 o'clock last
night and the main track so completely
blocked that the east and wtst-bound trains
were delayed from six to ten hours. The ac-
cident was caused by broken axle. Eleven
ears were wrecked and brakeman named
NJ. Caddington, it is feared, fatally injured
He was caught between the ears and ter
ribly crushed. Both legs were severed from
the body and he was otherwise seriously cut
and bruised. The tracks were not cleared
until late this morning and trains east and
west were sent over the West Pennsylvania
Road to Blairsville junction. where they
were switched on the main line
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10

CAsr LAIk WIS. August 5.--rnlsss the
prevailing droutil comes to a speedy end. the
indications are that a very considerable por-
ton of Southern Wisconsin will be little
more than n black desert before many days
The present dry spell has eelipsed any,
thing in the recollection Of the proverbial
oldest settler and brush and prairie fires
are reported from score of directions OF
ten farmers who were gashered last nigh, at
Postmaster McVey's hotel. at this place, six
bad bezA engaged for six days in fighting
back the flames from their hoInesteads, while
the families of the other four had been tax
ing turns at sitting up at night in order that
the households might be aroused in case OF
sudden danger
The condition of the ground can scarcely
be Imagined Every bit OF moisture and sap
has been burnt out ofthe grass. brush and all
kinds of vegetation, and the earth is SO dry
that even the roots of the stubble in recently
moved fields are burning over hundreds OF
acres. Sloughs and weedy streams which
have never before ceased flowing are dried up
and the air is filled with smoke of the burn
ing weeds. Scores of wells fed by springs
have gone dry, and farmers in many instan-
ces are compelled to go miles to the lakes for
water for household purposes.
In many cases the farmers have plowed
wide ridges around their homes and hay
stacks, in order to prevent the crossing of the
flames. but even this precaution has in many
instances proven futile, Cattle are suffering
terribly and the milk supply has been redu-
ced TO a minimum. Morning after morning
the farmers look anxiously in hope of rain
but the sky is cloudless, and the hot blasts
of wind sweeping over the burning fields are
a perpetual reminder of the Sahara desert.
Nothing like the present drouth has eyeI
been known in this region, and the summer
of 1887 will pass into the history of Southern
Wisconsin as the most terrible season it has
ever experienced
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10

PRoHIBlrIoN is defeated by from 60,000
10 100000 in Texas. The vote was very
full and the contest between liquor and
cold water was the hottest ever known in
the State. There were 23i publicly ad-
vertised mass meetings held in different
parts of the State on the day before the
election by the friends and opponents of
Prohibition. Senator-elect Regan led the
fight for Prohibition and both political
parties seem 10 have divided about alike
on the issue.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10
Bold Train Robbers.

: INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. s.-A bold attemp, at
train robbery was made on the Pan Handle
line about O'Clock this morning. About
midnight the switchmen in the Pan Handle
freight yards discovered five men robbing a
car Of merchandise. They attempted 10 cap
ture the robbers, but were compelled to throw
up their hands and walk away. Two or
three hours later five men. supposed to be
.he same persons who robbed the car ship
ped on an outgoing freight train, just beyond
the city limits, and while the engineer and
trainmen were covered with revolvers, the
ears were all examined, but the robbers fail
ell to find anything they wanted aud allow
ed the train to proceed on lis trip.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10
Exten sive Prairie Fire in Illinois.

JOLIET, H.. Aug. 6.-~After the prairie fire
which ragged all day yesterday in the vicinity
of Manhattan had been got under control IL
broke out afresh further down the railroad
in another place and burnt over 1869 acres
One house was destroyed. In some places
the flames were from twenty to thirty feet
high, and the running blaze an average of
ten feet high. The fire went faster than II
man could run. The fire was finally subdu-
ed near Matteson. A large area was burnt
over. and in the woods the fire is still burn
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10
$4,000 Fire in an Ohio Town.

BowLiNe GREEN, o.. Aug. Fire origin
ated in bakery in this town at 2 O'Clock
this morning and before the flames were got
ten under control had destroyed y buildings
embracing two squares of the business por-
ton of the town, including one hotel, one
marble works, one livery stable, one furni-
ture store, one harness shop, two wagon
shops and carriage shop and a number of
offices and minor buildings. The loss j. 50
900 with light insurance.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10
Plains Freebooters.

AUSTIN, TEX. August 3.--The mail coach
going and the one coming between Austin
and Fredericksburg were stopped by high
wayman near Dripping Springs. Blanc's
county, Friday night and the mail pouches
were robbed of their contents with the ex-
ception Of two registered packages, which es-
caIed the notice of the robber. The high
wayman stopped the incoming driver near
where he was to meet the outgoing coach.
He kept him bound and gagged until the
other driver camenp, when he also stopped
him. After tiespoiiag the mail pouches the
robber mounted his horse and galloped off.
The amount of his booty is not known.
Neither of the drivers claim to be able 10
identify him, being too busy watching the
six-shooter levelcd at their heads